This American Life "House on Loon Lake" on AM 1370

The entire show this week is one long story, sort of a real-life Hardy Boys mystery.

More than most shows, this one lends itself to a Hollywood-style tagline. Perhaps: "You Might Break In ... But You'll Never Forget." Or "Dead Letters Tell No Tales." Don't miss This American Life, Thursday, February 11 at 9 p.m. on AM 1370/FM-HD 91.5-2.Prologue.

Host Ira Glass explains that our show's a little different this week. It consists of one long story, lasting the entire hour, about a young boy, an abandoned house, and the mysterious family who once lived there but seemed to disappear without a trace.

Act One.

Adam Beckman tells the first part of his story, about how, back in the 1970s, he and his friends broke into an abandoned house in the small town of Freedom, New Hampshire. The home turned out to be a perfect time capsule, containing the furniture, letters and personal effects of an entire family ... abandoned for decades. It seemed like the family just vanished one day, leaving salt and pepper shakers on the table, notes on the bedroom mirror, and a wallet with money still inside. Adam and his friends read the letters, saving some as clues, and never forgot. (30 minutes.)

Act Two.

Adam Beckman continues his story. He returns to the town in New Hampshire where he discovered the abandoned house as a kid and tries to find out what happened there. It turns out he's not the only one looking for an answer to that question. (25 minutes)